Building block



C. F. TEFFT BUILDING BLOCK April 23, 1940.

Filed July 19, 1939 2 SheeLs--Sheeil 1 April 23, 1940.

C. F0 Pres fm?? Patented Apr. 23, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEBUILDING BLOCK tion of Ohio Appiication'July 19, 1939, serial No.285,368

8 Claims.

'I'he present invention relates to improvements in wall construction.

In the construction of walls for buildings and the like, it is desirableto form the walls of hollow fired clay blocks bonded together with asuitable readily workable mortar so that a light but sturdy wall may behad. The usual cored brick or block is heavier and stronger than isactually needed because the blocks must have thick walls to affordconsiderable bearing surface for obtaining a strong mortar bond. If thewalls are made relatively thin to reduce the weight of the blocks, thebearing surfaces afforded by the ends of the Walls will be insufficientto form a strong mortar bond.

It is the object of the present invention to form a hollow fired clayblock, the water absorbing characteristic of which is such that moistureof the usual readily workable mortar will be readily absorbed to causethe mortar to set shortly after it is applied to the bearing surface ofthe block, at least one of the spaced walls having ribs extending fromtop to bottom to form a plurality of grooves and applying the usualreadily workable mortar to the top of the ribbed wall so that it willbridge the ends of the grooves to form a bond extending the width of thewall and the ribs.

Another object of the invention is to form the blocks as set forth inthe preceding paragraph, in which two interconnecting webs for the twospaced walls are disposed adjacent the center of the block and arespaced apart the width of a mortar joint and a third web is spaced fromthe center of the block at a distance equal to the width of the blockless one half a mortar joint so that in forming a corner in a wall, twoof the blocks may be set at right angles to one another in one course,whereby the side of one full length block may be flush with the end ofthe other block, and a block of the second course may be broken off atthe outside edge of the third mentioned web, so that one end of theblock in the second course will be flush with the wall of the blocktherebelow and the third web will coincide with one of the central websof the mentioned full length block in the lower course, thus forming amortar bond at the center of the lower block.

Other and further objects and advantages will be apparent from thefollowing description, reference being had to the accompanying drawingswherein preferred forms of embodiments of the present invention areclearly shown.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a building block;

Fig. 2 is a. perspective view of part of a wall formed of blocks similarto that shown in Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view taken on line 4--4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a view taken on line 5--5 of Fig. 4; and

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of another form of building block.

Referring to the drawings, a hollow fired clay building block is shownat Ill. The block is formed with spaced side Walls I2 and I4 that areinterconnected by webs I5, I6, I1, I8, I9 and 20. Preferably the websextend from top to bottom of the walls.

The walls I2 and Il have ribs 22 formed thereon, which ribs extend fromtop to bottom of the walls parallel to the Webs described above. Theribs 22 form grooves 24 that terminate at the top `and bottom end edgesofthe walls I2 and I4. These ribs 22 are spaced apart a distance suchthat mortar having the usual working consistency may be bridged acrossthe ends of the grooves 2l. The top and bottom ends of the wallsincluding the ribs form bearing surfaces that are adapted to be bondedwith adjacent bearing surfaces. It is apparent that the ribs 22 widenthe effective bearing surfaces and in addition strengthen the walls.With this construction, the walls of the blocks may be relatively thinto lighten the block without reducing the strength of the block.

The webs I5 and 20 form the end walls of the whole block. The webs I6and I9 are spaced from the center of the block, represented by thedotted line 25, approximately the width of the block, and the two WebsIIand I8 are disposed adjacent the center of the block and are spacedapart approximately the width of a mortar joint. The grooves 2| on theoutside of the webs I6 and I9 are formed with oblique corners 26adjacent the webs to weaken the walls I2 and I4 so that the block may bereadily broken by a suitable tool along the planes indicated by thedotted lines 21.

The blocks are adapted to be formed by eX- truding soft clay through adie that forms the ribbed walls and interconnecting webs. The'extrudedclay is then cut into blocks of the desired heighth by the usual cuttingdevice well known in the tile manufacturing art. In forming the blocksIIJ, the outside walls may be rough or smooth, and in the embodimentshown, the exterior of the block is smooth for providing a smoothfinished wall. 'I'he clay blocks thus formed are then fired in the usualmanner. It is essential that the clay used in forming the blocks be of asoft type so that when the block is finished it will readily absorbmoisture from mortar used in bonding the blocks together.

A fire clay has been found to be suitable for forming theblocks Ill.

Another form of block is shown at 30 which block may be formed in amanner similar to that in which the block III is formed. The block IIIis approximately twice the width of the block IU and equal in length andheighth. A longitudinal web 3I is formed lengthwise of the block forstrengthening the block. The portions of the web II interconnecting thewebs I5' and 32, and 33 and 2Il are forked to lend additional strengthto the block. The walls I2 and Il are provided with ribs 22 similar tothe ribs 22.

A wall III is shown constructed in accordance with my invention. Thewall 40 is made of blocks' I0 laid in a running bond, one verticalmortar joint falling directly at the center of blocks in the next upperand lower courses.

In bonding the blocks I0 to form the wall 40, the usually employedreadily workable mortar is spread over the top bearing surfacesincluding the ribs 22, and the webs I1 and Il of the two adjacent blocksin one course and a block is then placed upon these blocks with one endweb of the uppermost block resting over the web I8 of a lower block andthe web at the opposite end of the uppermost blockresting on the web I1of a lower block. The upper blocl. thus spans the vertical mortar jointof two adjacent blocks in the next lower course and the ends thereof aresupported by webs in the next lower blocks. When the blocks are bondedas described, the mortar will bridge the ends of the grooves 24, asshown in Fig. 5. Thus the effective width of the mortar joint is thewidth of the walls including the ribs. Themortar extending into the endsof the grooves keys the blocks in position to form a strong bond betweenthe blocks. Moisture in the mortar is readily absorbed by the blocks sothat the mortar quickly congeals or sets. This permits the wall to bebuilt up without sliding or shifting of the lower blocks, and preventsseparation of the mortar over the ends of the grooves 24.

By spacing of the webs forming the hollow block, as set forth, a singleblock may be utilized for forming wall corners and establishing therunning bond. Assuming for example, the block I0 to be three andthree-quarter inches in width, twelve inches long and five inches high,and the mortar joints one-half inch, the webs I1 and Il are spacedone-quarter inch from the center of the block or one half the width of amortar joint. The webs I6 and I3 will be spaced three and one-halfinches from the centex oi' the block, the width of the block, less onehalf a mortar joint, or nine and one-half inches from the outer faces ofthe opposite end webs. I'he webs I 6, I1, Il and I9 are approximatelyone-half inch in width. In forming a corner of the wall, the blocks Aand B are clipped" or broken on the line 21 so that these blocks willhave an overall length of ten inches with the web I9 forming one endwall. The blocks A are stacked across the blocks B at right anglesthereto and along the bearing surface of the full length blocks C. Theblocks C are bonded with the side of a block B by a one-half inch mortarjoint. The center webs I1 of the blocks C will be ten inches from theoutside wall of the blocks B; hence the end webs I9 of blocks A willcoincide with the webs I1 of blocks C. The end webs I6 of the fulllength blocks D, abutting block A, will rest above the centerinterconnecting webs I8 of blocks C. In this manner, a regular runningbond may be readily established from a corner, and the ends of each tilewill be vertically aligned with a'web of a block in the next lowercourse. This is illustrated in Fig. 3 wherein the end webs I9 of theclipped blocks A coincide with the center webs I1 of the blocks C andthe ends Ii of the blocks D rest upon the central webs Il of the blocksC.

It is often convenient to use a block one half the length of the blocksused in constructing the wall to form openings in the wall. Two of suchblocks may be readily formed by clipping a block I0 at the centerthereof on the line 25. The webs I1 and I8 each form an end wall of thehalf length block. This block is illustrated at E, and the web I8thereof is aligned with the web I8 of the block D in the next lowercourse and the end web 20 is aligned with the web 20 of the block D.

Preferably the ribsI 22 and 22' extend approximately three eighths of aninch from the walls, are approximately one half inch in width and arespaced apart approximately one half inch.

When the width of the building block is greater than one half the lengththereof, it is desirable to dispose an interconnecting, intermediate webclose to one end of the block and spaced from the other end thereof sothat the distance. from the web to the remote end of the block plus thewidth of the web and the Width of the block, is equal to one and onehalf the length of the blocks less one half the width of a mortar joint.'I'hus by breaking or clipping one of the blocks adjacent the describedinterconnecting or intermediate web, the block may be bonded with theside of a corner block, the end of which corner block forms a header,and one end of the clipped block will lie the width of one half a mortarjoint from the center of the second stretcher block from the corner inthe next course above to form a regular running bond pattern. When theblock is clipped, the intermediate web then functions as an outer end ofthe block. It is also desirable to provide two intermediate websadjacent the center of the blocks, each spaced from the center thereofone half the width of a mortar joint to form supporting walls for theend walls of blocks in the next above course. 'I'he block 30 embodiesthe above described features. Assuming for example that the block 30 iseight inches wide and twelve inches in length, the outer face of web 32should be spaced nine and threequarter inches from the outer face of endweb 20 and the outer face of the web 33 an equal distance from the outerface of the end web I5' so that the block may be readily shortened to anine and three-quarter inch length by clipping the block adjacent eitherof the webs 32 or 2l.

Referring to Fig. '7, a portion of a wall, including a corner thereof,is illustrated, which Wall is made of the blocks 30 to form a regularrunning bond. The corner of the wall is formed by blocks stacked one onanother so that the courses adjacent the corner will be alternatelyheaders and stretchers, indicated at F and G respectively. The headersbeing eight inches in length (the width of the block) and the stretchersare twelve inches in length. When the blocks form stretcher faces. fulllength blocks are joined thereto to form a stretcher course along thewall. In order to form stretchers in the courses beginning with a headerF at the corner, a blocl-r` shown at H. is clipped on the planeindicated at 21 adjacent the web 33 and this shortened block is joinedwith the header block by the usual mortar joint. Assuming the mortarjoints to be one half inch in width, the distance from the outside edgeof the corner to the end of the block H will be eighteen and one-quarterinches. It is apparent therefore, that the web 33 will be aligned withthe central web 34 of the next lower block, since the web 33 will be anequal distance from the outside wall of the corner. A full length blockforming a stretcher face may then be joined with the block H and haveits end wall aligned with the central web 35 of the next lower block.Thus a regular running bond is establishel.

While the forms of embodiment of the present invention as hereindisclosed constitute preferred forms, it is to be understood that otherforms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims whichfollow.

I claim:

1. A wall comprising stacked baked clay hollow building blocks, each ofsaid blocks comprising spaced walls and interconnecting webs forming thehollow blocks; spaced ribs on one of said walls extending transverselyof the length of the walls to provide a plurality of transverselyextending grooves; mortar bonding the confronting bearing surfaces ofthe blocks; said mortar forming a joint, on the wall having said ribs,equal to at least the width of the wall and the ribs; said mortar whenapplied having the usual liquid content so as to be readily workable bythe brick mason; and said ribs being spaced from one another at suchdistance and the liquid absorbing characteristic of the block being suchthat mortar bridges the ends of the grooves when the mortar is appliedin the usual manner.

2. A wall comprising stacked baked clay hollow building blocks, each ofsaid blocks comprising spaced walls and interconnecting webs forming thehollow block, two of said webs forming ends of the blocks and anotherweb extending from top to bottom of the walls and spaced from the centerof the walls approximately the Width of the block less one half thewidth of a mortar joint; ribs on the inside of one of said wallsextending from top to bottom of the wall to provide a plurality oftransversely extending grooves; mortar bonding the confronting bearingsurfaces of the blocks; said mortar forming a joint, on the wall havingsaid ribs, equal to at least the width of the wall and the ribs, saidmortar when applied having the usual liquid content so as to be readilyworkable by the brick mason; and said ribs being spaced from one anotherat such distance and the liquid absorbing characteristic of the blockbeing such that mortar bridges the ends of the grooves when the mortaris applied in the usual manner.

3. A wall comprising stacked baked clay hollow building blocks, each ofsaid blocks comprising spaced walls and interconnecting webs extendingfrom top to bottom of the walls forming the hollow block, two of saidwebs being disposed adjacent the center of the walls and spaced apartthe width of a mortar joint; a third web spaced from the center of theblock approximately the width of the block less one half the width of amortar joint; Aspaced ribs on one of said walls extending from top tobottom thereby to provide a plurality of transversely extending grooves;mortar bonding the confronting bearing surfaces of the blocks; saidmortar forming a joint, on the wall having said ribs, equal to at leastthe width of the wall and the ribs; said mortar when applied having theusual liquid content so as to be readily workable by the brick mason;and said ribs being spaced from one another at such distance and theliquid absorbing characteristic of the block being such that mortarbridges the ends of the grooves when the mortar is applied in the usualmanner.

4. A wall comprising stacked baked clay hollow building-blocks, each ofsaid blocks comprising spaced walls and interconnecting webs extendingfrom top to bottom of the walls forming the hollow block, two of saidwebs being disposed adjacent the center of the walls and spaced apartthe width of a mortar joint; a third web spaced from the center of theblock approximately the width of the block less one half the width of amortar joint; a fourth web spaced from the center of the block oppositethe said third web approximately the width of the block less one halfthe width of a mortar joint; spaced ribs on one of said walls extendingfrom top to bottom thereby to provide a plurality of transverselyextending grooves; mortar bonding the confronting bearing surfaces ofthe blocks; said mortar forming a joint, on the wall having said ribs,equal to at least the width of the wall and the ribs; said mortar whenapplied having the Vusual liquid content so as to be readily workable bythe brick mason; and said ribs being spaced from one another at suchdistance and the liquid absorbing characteristic of the block being suchthat mortar bridges the ends of the grooves when the mortar is appliedin the usual manner.

5. A wall comprising stacked baked clay hollow building blocks, each ofsaid blocks comprising spaced Walls and interconnecting Webs forming thehollow block, two of said webs forming ends of the blocks and anintermediate web extending from top to bottom of the walls and disposedcloser to one of the end webs than the other and at such a distance fromsaid other end web so that the Width of the block plus the said distanceand the thicknesses of the intermediate web and said other end web willequal one and one half the length of the block less one half a mortarjoint; ribs on the inside of one of said Walls extending from top tobottom of the wall to provide a plurality of transversely extendinggrooves; mortar bonding the confronting bearing surfaces of the blocks;said mortar forming a joint, on the Wall having said ribs, equal to atleast the width of the wall and the ribs; said mortar when appliedhaving the usual liquid content so as to be readily workable by thebrick mason; and said ribs being spaced from one another at suchdistance and the liquid absorbing characteristic of the block being suchthat mortar bridges the ends of the grooves when the mortar is appliedin the usual manner.

6. A Wall like that defined in claim and including another intermediateweb which is disposed a distance from said other end wall equal to thedistance that the first mentioned intermediate web is disposed from saidone end wall.

7. A wall like that defined in claim 5 and including a webinterconnecting the end webs, said web being disposed intermediate thesaid spaced walls and extending substantially from top to bottom of theblock.

8. A `Jvall like that defined in claim 5 and including a webinterconnecting the end webs, said web being disposed intermediate thesaid spaced walls and extending substantially from top to bottom of theblock, the portion of the said web interconnecting the said one end weband the intermediate web being forked.

C. FORREST TEFF'I.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 2,.198,599- April 25, 191m.

cHARmsFoRREsT TEFFT. lIt: is hereby certified that error appears in theprinted specification of the above numbered'patent'requiringcorrectionas follows: Page l, sec..

ond column, line 5, after .the word and period "block," insert theiollowing paragraph I Figure 7 is a perspective View of'` a wall showing amethod f laying the wall block.

and that the said Letters Patent shoultl be readwith'this correction'therein that the sane may conform to the record ofthe case in thePatent Office.

Signed and sealed this 11th day of June, A. D. 191m.

Henry Van Arsdale,

(Seal) Acting Conmissioner of Patents.

